Reports from Spain allege that Mr Bush was shot twice after returning home from a holiday with his girlfriend.

His friend, Paul Orchard, who had also been his personal trainer since September, told the Bristol Post he was "trying to comprehend" what happened.

He told the paper: "We struck a good rapport and I only spoke to him on Friday evening. We were going to meet next week.

"When I was first told, I questioned whether it was true and I kept on saying it can't be. Now I feel just a little bit empty, almost like I'm trying to put pieces together."

A Foreign Office spokesman said: "We are aware of the death of a British national in Estepona, Malaga, on April 5. We are in touch with local authorities and we are providing consular assistance to the family."